Blood Stains and Marigolds

》SIX《

Dipper had closed the shop a bit earlier than normal, but nobody had really come in that day anyway. Stan probably wouldn't notice regardless.

As soon as Dipper locked up, finished counting the money in the register, and depositing said money into Stan's safe, Dipper began to sweep the shop. He had already done it today, but Stan always insisted that it was swept at the end of the day, even if hardly anyone came in.

Once he was done sweeping, he put the broom away. The necklace Bill had bought him caught on the broom handle and fell off. Dipper swore silently before leaning down to pick it up.

He held the necklace in his hand for a moment, admiring how beautiful and simplistic the little pine tree was and how Bill had given it to him. As Dipper put the necklace back on, he felt the urge to cough again.

Crap, I thought about Bill again. Dipper mentally scolded himself before running towards the bathroom.

As he made it to the bathroom he heard the front door unlock and open, signaling Stan had come home.

"Dipper, you here?" Stan called.

"Y-Yeah! I'm in the bathroom!" Dipper called back. At least he knew Stan wouldn't bother him in here.

Dipper coughed hard, feeling a couple petals fly up.

"Dipper are you ok?" Dipper heard outside the door. He hadn't heard Stan approach, Dipper was thankful he locked the door.

"Yeah...I'm fi-" Dipper was cut off by his the flowers coming up, forcing him to puke and cough up more blood and flowers.

He heard Stan say something, though he couldn't understand what, before, to his horror, hearing the door open.

"Kid...I..." Stan managed as he was frozen in the doorway for a moment.

"I'm fine....everything is fine..." Dipper said, before coughing and puking up more flowers. He felt hot tears falling down his face.

Dipper was so caught up in the moment, he hadn't noticed Stan approach him until he felt his Great Uncle rub his back as he threw up more flowers.

Once he was finished, Stan flushed the toilet for him as Dipper just stared at the yellow-gold petals.

Stan pulled Dipper to his feet, guiding him to the kitchen before pushing him down in a chair, placing a cup of something in front of him.

"What is this?" Dipper managed, his voice hoarse.

"Tea, it will help." Stan said. He sat down across from Dipper.

Dipper took a sip of the tea. Stan was right, it did help a bit.

"So, how long?" Stan asked after a few minutes of silence.

"What do you mean?" Dipper asked, taking another sip of the tea. Stan sighed.

"How long have you had hanahaki?" Stan asked. Dipper froze.

"You...you know what it is?" Dipper asked.

"Yeah, it's a legend most places, but it actually exists in Gravity Falls. It's pretty rare here, but it still happens." Stan explained, "You still haven't answered my question."

"A week, I've had it right around a week." Dipper said. Stan swore under his breath.

"Well, it's progressing a lot faster than it should be." Stan said, "Do you know who it is?"

"Y-Yeah...but he has a girlfriend." Dipper admitted. Stan just nodded and pulled out his phone.

"What are you doing?" Dipper asked.

"Calling Ford. He can help." Stan said, before putting the phone up to his ear.

Dipper could hear the gruff voice of Ford pick up.

"Stanley, I'm in the middle of an important meeting..." Ford said.

"You're gonna want to come home." Stan said.

"I already told you I'll be home tomorrow. Whatever it is, it can wait until tomorrow." Ford said, irritation edging in his voice.

"Ford..." Stan tried.

"Stanley, I am sick of you always thinking whatever you need is more important than my work. You're always like this-" Ford complained.

"Ford..." Stan tried again.

"No, I don't have time for this. I need to get back to this meeting. Whatever it is, you can wait until tomorrow." Ford said.

"Stanford. Dipper has Hanahaki." Stan said flatly. There was silence on Ford's end of the phone for a long time.

"I'll be on the next flight. Have Soos meet me at the airfield to pick me up." Ford said, before hanging up.

Stan sighed and put down the phone.

"H-How do you know about hanahaki?" Dipper asked. Stan sat back down.

"Isn't it obvious? I had hanahaki." Stan said. Dipper froze.

"You...you had hanahaki? Who-"

"It doesn't matter anymore. She's gone anyway." Stan said, cutting Dipper off.

"If she's gone then how did you survive?" Dipper asked. Stan sighed.

"Ford came up with a solution, but it isn't without its...side effects...he'll explain when he gets here..." Stan said.

A thousand thoughts ran through Dipper's head as Stan insisted he drink his tea.

Stan had hanahaki?

Stan knows I have hanahaki...

Now Ford knows I have hanahaki...

Will Stan and Ford tell anyone else?

"So...I'm guessing this boy you're in love with is the same one that came to help you today?" Stan asked. Dipper slowly nodded.

"Yeah..." Dipper said, slowly taking another sip.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to bring him up. I know thinking about him makes the flowers worse." Stan said. He pulled out his phone, seemingly texting someone.

"Does Mabel know?" Stan asked.

"No...I didn't want to worry her." Dipper said. Stan nodded.

"That's how I was. Sometimes it just seems better that no one knows, that way your family isn't thinking about your death before it happens." Stan said. He sighed.

"Then Ford found the flowers and the blood. He had known about hanahaki, and with my weird behavior lately it didn't take him long to connect the dots. Problem for me though, was the person I fell in love with, died shortly after I got hanahaki. I thought it would go away, but it only seemed to get worse." Stan said. He then stood up and ruffled Dipper's hair.

"But that doesn't matter right now. You should get some rest. Ford will be here in a couple hours, he'll explain his 'solution'." Stan said. Dipper nodded and got up.

"Th-Thank you Grunkle Stan..." Dipper said. Stan smiled softly.

"You're welcome kid." Stan responded before Dipper walked back upstairs to his own room.